How do attorneys fight traffic tickets?

Asked by wgallios (1768

) June 29th, 2010

In Nevada (and probably other states as well), If I get a speeding ticket for example, I am able to take it to a law firm that deals with traffic violations. I can pay usually $50—$100, and they will fight the ticket down to say a $90 parking ticket with no points on your license, and no traffic school. You simply drop off, or provide a copy of the ticket to the attorneys office, and they goto court for you.

My question is, what are they really doing? I’m sure these law offices get tons of tickets to which they represent in court and fight down. But are they really going to each case and representing you while you are not there, or is there something else that is going on? For example are they just going to the court house and dropping off a batch of speeding tickets to a judge and say “reduce these”?

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5 Answers

I always plead not guilty, and I am always offered a lesser charge by the DA. I have never had to pay to have that happen. They want to avoid trials.

dpworkin (27090

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I suspect they are merely negotiating the violation and fine down for you with the DA and the court automatically accepts those agreements. Law enforcement is undoubtedly attuned to this and its a system that effectively generates funds for all involved, but you, of course.
See ya…..Gary/wtf

whatthefluther (13830

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They might also subpoena the calibration specialist for the speedometer that was used by the citing officer, who, as a matter of course, probably never attend.

mirifique (1540

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I guess to answer my own question, I found this great article on how attorneys actually handle these cases: http://www.bankrate.com/finance/auto/can-a-lawyer-beat-your-traffic-ticket--1.aspx

Just incase anyone else was interested.

wgallios (1768

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DWI defense lawyers fight traffic tickets in many ways. For example, they can often challenge the accuracy of alcohol breath testers because they don’t actually measure blood alcohol concentration (BAC) but only estimate it. In addition, they often lack reliability in their estimations. Lawyers can challenge field sobriety test as well as any acts of commission or omission of law enforcement officers if that violates law. And the list goes on.

http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/DrivingIssues/1106182337.html

ItsAHabit (2302

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